Whitecaps FC, six points back of LA Galaxy and Colorado Rapids, who hold the fourth and fifth Western Conference playoff spots, likely need to win all three of their remaining matches to make the MLS Cup playoffs for the second straight year.

“With the Cascadia games when we're not travelling too far, we've always just kind of gone for it,” Martin Rennie told reporters following a training session at the University of British Columbia on Tuesday. “Earlier this season it was a back-and-forth game. We were a goal down, then a goal up.

“It was a bit wild. It might be a little bit like that again. These games are intense and lots going on, so we need to make sure we have that intensity to start the game.”

The two players offer very different options, with Manneh possessing breakaway speed and trickery, and Heinemann able to provide a physical presence and strong hold-up play.

Both players just have three starts to their names this season, but Manneh's strong performance over the weekend, when he forced Portland Timbers 'keeper Donovan Ricketts into no less than two top class saves and nearly drew a stoppage-time penalty, will surely be fresh in Rennie's mind as he makes his selections.